Little Blue Heron, White Ibis
There is a small island off the Gulf coast of Florida that has a refuge known for its rich expanse of wildlife.
It is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Florida called Ding Darling.
Roseate Spoonbill, Ding Darling
With 5,200 acres of protected wilderness, there are many species of mammals and reptiles including endangered and threatened species.
On a bird migration route and in a subtropical climate, it also boasts 245 bird species.
Waders and Mangrove, Ding Darling
The more habitats a place has, the more variety of wildlife exist. Here there are numerous habitats.
This refuge has the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the U.S.
Mangroves are trees that live in salt water and exist only in tropical and sub-tropical locations. Relatively rare in the U.S., there are numerous groves here, and three different species.
Other habitats at Ding Darling include freshwater marsh and ponds, tidal mud flats, hardwood forest, and seagrass beds. Each habitat hosts different species.
White Ibis, Ding Darling
Florida is a popular place for Americans to enjoy warm weather year round, and in 1945 this acreage was almost sold to developers.
Fortunately, an environmental hero, Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, convinced President Truman to sign an Executive Order creating the refuge, thereby preventing the sale.
Great Blue Heron, Ding Darling
More info: J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR
The refuge has trails and boardwalks, a four-mile wildlife drive, and many wildlife viewing areas.
In addition to the extensive refuge, there is literally another side to Sanibel Island.
As a barrier island, it extends several miles into the Gulf of Mexico, and has a shelf of white sand beaches.
Snowy Egret, Sanibel Island, Florida
An easy uncrowded walk along the beach always produced a new and beautiful sight. Leaping dolphins, shells and mollusks, egrets everywhere.
Birds and mammals wherever you look…it is a quiet piece of heaven.
Photo credit: Athena Alexander
Essential book if you go: Living Sanibel by Charles Sobczak
Wood Stork
Pen Shell, Sanibel Island, Florida
Sanibel Island, FL on far left. Courtesy Wikipedia
Sounds like a wonderful place. I seem to remember the old outdoor writers romanticizing about it. Probably had to do with duck hunting or something in that era.
Before 1945 I would imagine it was a popular place for duck hunting. ah, some things are so much better these days. Great to hear from you, Craig — and much appreciated.
Thank goodness it wasn’t sold for developers….the last thing southern Florida needs, or for that matter anywhere else:) Thank you for another very informative post. Have a lovely Monday and week ahead…janet:)
Yes, that was a happy nugget to come upon in my research for this post. I’m glad you enjoyed the visit to southern Florida today, Janet. I hope you, too, have a lovely day and happy and productive week ahead. My thanks for your visit, as always, and appreciation.
Keep it wild and they will come. Everyone should take the time to explore these precious spaces with binoculars and senses so the next generations can appreciate how diverse our world really is. The Gulf Coast is a mecca for birders!! Hope you’re well, Jet. ~ Shannon
The Gulf Coast is lovely for spotting birds, I agree Shannon. But sometimes there’s too many birders for my liking, in the really good places…I like the quiet so much. But Sanibel Island wasn’t overcrowded, at least in Feb. when we were there. So glad you enjoyed the post today, Shannon. And I was delighted to see you here today, will pop on over to DirtNKids to see what you’re up to. My thanks and best wishes to you~~
I know what you mean about bumping butts with other birders. We also prefer the habitats where few un-feathered two-leggers skulk. You’re not missing anything at the blog; I’m still no where near ready to write for the world. Life is, well…LIFE!!
Thanks Shannon. I did stop by and will await the day when you return. I really enjoy your posts, but I sure appreciate the time it takes when you could instead be outside playing. And I’m sure it’s been busy with your kids and school and teachings. My best to you~~
5,200 acres of protected wilderness! Happy to read about these beautiful birds have a place to enjoy.
A piece of heaven, indeed! Thank you for sharing, Jet. 🙂
That’s a lot of acreage for birds and mammals, especially in warm and watery places where land developing filled in the swamps decades ago. I’m happy you enjoyed the Florida post today, Amy — and appreciate your visit.
Fabulous fotos!
Thanks so much, Cindy~~
I am so thankful to Jay for helping preserve that vast land. It is so good to see these creatures and many others that call it a home or just take temporary shelter there!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Alok. It is amazing how many people in this world have paved the way for later generations like us to enjoy the wilderness. It was a pleasure to share it with you.
I might return to Sanibel Island again next time I go to Florida.Nice place to visit. Thanks Jet! 🙂
I had the feeling you would have been to Sanibel in the past, HJ, being it’s the next state over from you. I am glad you have enjoyed this lovely place. And of course, I really appreciate your visit and warm comment.
Always!
😀
Jet, thank you for this post! I have never been to Florida except Ft Lauderdale. I would love to visit Sanibel Island to enjoy sketching and photographing bird wildlife that we do not see in the PNW. Hopefully the weather is pleasant in the early spring of 2017.
When I was there in southern Florida it was Feb., and I had gone hoping for warm winter weather. It was in the 60s, and not really all that warm. But I wouldn’t mind going again, I would just dress warmer and not expect sunny and hot. I had done all the research, but you know how those things go. lol. You would love this little island, SWI, and find so much to sketch. Thank you for your visit today~~
60 degree weather would be perfect for this northern European offspring who is used to living in cooler climate.
I imagine you would glory in the weather, SWI. 🙂
Ding Darling would make a great name for a character. So would Roseate -Spoonbill. It would be fun to write a mystery in which all the characters are named after birds! Thanks for my morning smile ; )
How lovely to have a writer comment on this funny refuge name. I think if I was the head of the refuge I would have named it something a little more wilderness-inspired than cartoonish, but then I’m a writer and I have plenty of names to dole out. I laughed at your idea of naming characters after birds. Birders would love it, that’s for sure. My thanks for your fun comment and visit today~~
Sounds like bird watching paradise. I shall be saying Ding Darling all day long as I love the sound of it. Happy to know there are such refuges where wildlife can thrive.
I bought a tee shirt there and that fun name is splashed all across the front. I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Sue, and thanks for your fun comment. I am smiling as I type. I hope your week is free of flat tires….
No flat tires! Love that you have a shirt with the name. Still smiling over that one.
It’s real brightly-colored, whereas most wildlife refuge t-shirts are more subdued and earth-colored. Sweet exchange of smiles, Sue — thank you~~
A darling place, a wonderful post! I’m not one for weather that’s too warm, or for sharing a place with too many people, but Ding Darling in winter could tempt me. Sounds irresistible put like that – tempted by Ding Darling. Who wouldn’t be? Loved learning about this bird paradise, and Athena’s photographs were amazing once again!
I enjoyed your play on words, pc. An irresistible name, I know. Florida in winter can be a bit popular, but just hanging out on the island is really great. You wouldn’t believe the seashells. Thanks so much, my friend.
Don’t know if I’ll ever head East of the Mississippi again, but Ding Darling sounds like a truly heavenly spot, well worth visiting.
It is worth visiting, Gunta, if you ever make your way over to Florida. My thanks and appreciation for your visits and comments.
Lovely captures of a wonderful bird filled oasis!
Oasis is a good word for it, Val. So much life and activity! I’m glad you enjoyed the Florida post.
Enjoyable post! We visited DD years ago…Bill attracted by the birds and me by the “ding-darling” name. It takes all kinds, yes? It was just lovely.
There is certainly something for everyone in this large and animated refuge. I am happy you have enjoyed Ding Darling Nan. Thanks so much for your visit~~
mmm, lovely lovely, Jet, thank you,
i often stop by to just fill my heart 🙂
x
Dear Niki, You are so kind, thank you so much. 🙂
always our pleasure, I am sure 🙂 x
Wonderful post! This place is one that I still have to visit here on the Gulf coast, probably about 2.5 h drive south from us. It looks much like some of the (much smaller) barrier islands we have here and the wildlife seems to be abundant. Great pictures of all the birds 🙂
I think you have a pretty wonderful piece of Florida heaven where you live, Tiny; but yes, the wildlife is abundant. I always enjoy your photos and adventures on the salt marsh~~
Thank goodness for President Trumen preventing greedy contractors to gobble up this Paradise. What a beautiful place, Jet, and I can only imagine what it must be like to wander here. Gorgeous pictures and I really enjoyed learning about this Refuge, a place I did not know about. Thank you so much!! ❤
A delight to have you visit Sanibel Island with me, Amy. We are so lucky to have had wildlife protectors here in the US for centuries now. Thanks for your kind and warm comment.
I thought Ding Darling was an interesting name, but now I know the background for the name:)
Did you explore the area by boat?
No, we explored Ding Darling trails on foot and the auto tour via our rental car. But I just looked it up and there’s a company that does offer water cruises. Thanks so much, Inger — great to visit with you.
Enjoyed this post. I’ve snorkelled with manatees at Crystal River and ‘did’ parts of the Everglades, so I’ll have to explore Ding Darling on my next visit to Florida. 🙂
Susan at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I think you will enjoy Ding Darling, Susan. Thanks for stopping by.
It is a piece of Florida heaven! Thanks for sharing, Jet. We visited DDNWR a few years back, and I would love some day to return. 🙂
Oh I bet you captured some fantastic bird photos there too, Donna. I’m glad you’ve experienced the joys of DD. Thanks for stopping by.
What a wonderful place right here in the USA. Thanks for sharing!
I know you have enjoyed Ding Darling and many other parts of Florida, Bill. I’m really glad you stopped by today. 🙂
How nice to see your post from our “neck of the woods”, even though I actually live on the other coast. Ding Darling on Sanibel Island is a place I visited a few times. Glad to see you saw so many of our beautiful friends there. Did you happen to also visit the Bailey Tract, a “wilder” slightly more remote, swamp/marsh area right nearby?
Great to know you have visited DD, even as a Fla. resident, BJ. One of our goals while down there was to see manatees, and since it was winter and they’re not in DD then, we went to Manatee Park near Ft. Myers and had that thrill. Also visited Corkscrew Swamp east of Naples, a pure joy. But no, we didn’t get to Bailey Tract. It sounds wonderful (always going for the “more remote” places), so if we ever return, this is valuable info. What a treat to converse with a Fla. resident about it, thanks so very much.
Looks like a fascinating place Jet, it was very lucky that it was saved for future generations.
Oh so nice to hear from you, Andrea. I agree, it is wonderful that Ding Darling was saved for all of us. I am so glad you came by, thank you.
Great to catch up with you Jet.
Sounds like a nature-lover’s paradise, Jet. Gorgeous photos. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia, you hit it exactly — a “nature-lover’s paradise.” My best wishes to you for a great weekend, where nature visits you daily.
Wonderful!
Thank you!
Thank you! Sanibel is wonderful – but this year, are there fewer birds? See below:
https://oldestvocation.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/for-the-birds/.
I’m glad you enjoyed my Sanibel post, Clarissa, thanks for stopping by.